Spool holder and thread cutter



June 21, 1955 o. B. NYLUND ETAL SPOOL HOLDER AND THREAD CUTTER FiledNov. 1, 1950 IN VEN TORS 0&06 15? AfyZa Qgizwls/zgmd,

United States Patent 2,711,294 SPOOL HOLDER AND CUTTER Olive B. Nylundand Agnes L. Nylund, Chicago, Ill. Application November 1, 1950, SerialNo. 193,442 6 Claims. (Cl. 242* -135) Our invention relates to animproved spool holder and thread cutter for holding a sewing spool infixed position, and for facilitating the cutting of the thread as it isdrawn from the spool. Our improved device is intended for use byhousewives, seamstresses, tailors or any one doing much hand sewing.

One of the features of the invention is the provision of an improved andsimplified suction cup mounting for the spool holder. This suction cupmounting enables the spool holder to be fixedly attached to the surfaceof a table, desk, chair or other supporting surface at any point whichwill dispose the spool in the most convenient location for quick andeasy use. Such fixed mountingis established by merely pressing thesuction cup base of the spool holder with suliicient pressure against asufficiently smooth surface to obtain the desired suction grip. Thisfixed mounting of the spool avoids the necessity of searching for thespool at each successive threading of the needle; it also avoids thepossibility of the spool falling to the floor and rolling underfurniture; and it holds the spool and the thread cutter with s'ufficientrigidity to enable the housewife or seamstress to perform a threadcutting operation with one hand. That is to say, if one hand isoccupied, as for example in holding the fabric, the needle or the like,the thread can be cut with the other hand, after the operation ofthreading the needle, by drawing the thread against the fixedly heldcutting edge with this other hand, so that there is no need of havingtwo free hands, one to hold the spool or thread cutter and the other thethread.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of an improved threadholding and thread cutting head on the upper end of the spool holdingstandard, this head having direct and unique cooperation with thesuction cup mounting of the spool standard in the performance of theabove described thread cutting operation. This head embodies a threadguiding aperture, a thread snubbing hub, and a thread cutting knife, allcooperatively arranged to facilitate the above described thread cuttingoperation, and also serving to effectively prevent the remaining end ofthe thread from falling back through the head or unwinding from thespool upon the completion of the thread cutting operation. The manner inwhich these parts coact will be hereinafter described in the laterdescription of different embodiments of the invention.

Another feature or object of the invention is to provide a constructionwhich will be so simple and inexpensive to make and assemble that thedevice can be sold through and lO-cent stores and other likemerchandising channels.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following detail description of different embodiments of theinvention. In the accompanying drawing illustrating such embodiments:

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, showing anembodiment of our invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the head;.and

2. Figures 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views showing modifiedembodiments. I

The suction cup mounting base is indicated at 10., being composed of apliable rubber and having an adequate area of suction surface grip tohold the device. in place against the stressesof pulling the thread Tfrom. the spool S, possibly with a quick or jerky movement, and also ofholding the device in place against the stresses of snubbing ,theth'readaround the snubbing post and pulling the thread against thecutting knife. Rising axially from the top of the suction cup 10 is aspoollhol'ding standard 11 for receiving the spool S. The. attachment ofthe standard to the suction cup is preferably effected by providing thesuction cup with a screw 12 having its head embedded in the rubber andits threaded shank 14 extending upwardly therefrom for screwing into thestandard. The standard 'll is shown as bein composed of a suitableplastic material, preferably rovided with an integrally formed circularbasefi'ange 15 for abutting against the top of the suction cup 10,.a1-though this base flange is not essential. An internally threaded socket16 in the bottom end of the standard is adapted to be screwed down overthe threaded. shank 14. Our invention contemplatesother ethods ofattaching thespool holdingstanda'rd to therubber suction cup, as Weshall later describe; g 7

Referring now to the removable upper head 11 which performsthethree-fold function of guiding, snubbing and cutting the thread T,this head is preferabl;y omposed 'of plastic and has a square or othernon-circular former periphery so that if the assembled unit shouldh'eaccidentally dro ped to the liner it cannot .ifoll under nearbyfurniture etc. Molded centrally in the plastic head isa metallic hub 18having a threaded socket,1 9.'for threadin down over a screw 21 whichprojects pwardly from the upper end of the plastic spool holdingstandard 11. The screw 21 has a lower shank portion 22 which'is moldedor threaded directly in the standard. The length of'this standard 11 isso proportioned to the len th of the average spool S to be mountedthereon that when the head 17 is screwed down fast against the top endonshoulder 20 t of the standard 11 the head is spaced from the top end ofthe spool so that the spool remains free. to revolve. Formed in the head17, preferablyat a point spa ed outwardly beyond the peripheral edge ofthe spool, is 'a thread guiding aperture 2 4 through which the thread isadapted to be passed in an upward directio From this guiding aperture,the thread i ada ted to be wrapped once or twice around the metallic hub18. This hub is formed Witha snubbing orches of smaller diameter thanthe knurled head 26 so that the thread cannot'sli off the top end ofthehub 18 in the thread snubbing operation. f This snubbed engagementof'the thread around the hub 18 holds the thre'ad against morelengthbeirig pulled offthe spool when the thread is pulled tight againstthe cutting blade 28 in the cutting operation. This cutting blade 28 isset back in one edge of all-shaped notch 30 extending inwardly from theedge of the head 17. In the preferred construction the cutting blade isembedded in the plastic'he'ad in the moulding thereof, but it might besecured in the notch 30 afterthe formation of the head, such as bypinning, staking, screwingor otherwise'fastening the cutting blade inplacealong one edge of the 'V shaped notch. After .the' thread has beensnubbed or retained by taking one or more turns arou d the hub 18, itcan be easily cut by being pulled downwardly in the V-shaped notch 30against the cuttingblade 28. It will be noted that the pull exerted onthe thread in the cutting operation is a downward pull with respect tothe head and spool holder, so that there is little .tendency to pull'thesuction gri 'ofjthe rubpercup it) loose hem the supportingsurfaee. Anylat'eral "component or pull exerted on the thread in the cuttingoperation always acts in a direction tending to keep the head 17 screweddown over the screw 21 tight against the shoulder 20 of the standard 11.It will also be seen that this thread cutting operation can be easilyperformed with one hand by merely pulling out the length of threaddesired, then snubbing the thread at a point near the spool by makingone or more turns around the snubbing hub 18, and then cutting thethread by drawing it downwardly into the V-shaped notch 30 against thecutting blade 28 all in a one-hand operation. The snubbed end of thethread re maining after the cutting operation will frequently remainsnubbed around the hub 18, but if it becomes loosened therefrom it willnot slip back through the guide aperture 24 and hence it will remainconveniently available for further needle threading operations.

In Figure 3 we have illustrated a modified construction in which thebase end of the spool supporting standard 11 is secured to the rubbersuction cup 10 by molecular fusion or adhesion. For example, thestandard may be formed of metal with a disk-like base portion 32 whichis joined to the top of the rubber suction cup 10 by a vulcanized bondindicated at 33. This joint or bond 33 might also be a cementitiousbond, which would then enable the standard 11 to be made of a plasticmaterial. The ability to make both the standard 11 and the head 17 of anattractive plastic material, either transparent, translucent, tinted orof multi-color design, adds greatly to the sales appeal of the device.In addition, the construction of these parts of molded plastic reducesthe manufacturing cost to a minimum. The suction cup 10 must of coursebe composed of rubber or a like material having suflicient resiliency toperform the suction gripping action.

In Figure 4 we have illustrated another modified embodiment in which thebase end of the standard 11 is formed with a base flange 35 from whichextends a reduced neck 26 followed by an anchoring flange 37. The bodyof the rubber suction cup 10 is molded over the anchoring flange 37 andreduced neck 36 and against the under side of the base flange 35. Thisgives a very secure attachment between the suction cup 10 and standard11. In such embodiment, the standard 11 can be composed of anappropriate plastic or of metal. The base flange 32 of Figure 3 and thebase flange 35 of Figure 4 function as the supporting surface for thelower end of the spool in the same manner as the base flange 15 ofFigure 1.

In Figure we have illustrated another modified embodiment in which thethreaded joint for separating the head 17 from the base is arranged inthe spool supporting standard 11. In this embodiment, the standard 11 ismade in two parts 11a and 11b, preferably of metal, although they mightbe composed of plastic, and one of these parts is provided with athreaded shank 41 which screws into a threaded socket 42 in the otherpart. The lower part 11b of the standard has a base flange 43, similarto the base flanges 32 and 35, and the anchored attachment of this lowerpart 11b to the rubber suction cup 10 may be in accordance with any ofthe previously illustrated embodiments or previously describedtechniques. The upper part 11a carries the head 17, preferably composedof plastic, although it might be made of metal. When the part 11a andhead 17 are both of the same material they may be made integral,including the snubbing hub 18. When the part 11a is composed of metaland the head 17 is composed of plastic, we preferably form the snubbinghub 18 integrally with the part 11a, and also form an integral flange 44spaced downwardly from the snubbing hub 18, so that the plastic head 17can be molded between the hub 18 and the flange 44 for rigid attachmentto the spool supporting standard.

While We have illustrated and described what we re gard to be thepreferred embodiments of our invention,

nevertheless it will be understood that such are merely exemplary andthat numerous modifications and rearrangements may be made thereinwithout departing from the essence of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a combined spool holding and thread cutting device, thecombination of a suction cup base for suction attachment to anyconvenient supporting surface, a supporting standard projecting upwardlyfrom said suction cup base for supporting a thread spool, a stationaryhead plate on the upper end of said supporting standard, a guideaperture in said stationary head plate through which the thread isadapted to pass in an upward direction from the spool on said standard,a snubbing hub projecting upwardly from the upper side of saidstationary head plate and around which one or more turns of the threadleaving said guide aperture are adapted to be snubbed, a notch formed inone edge of said head plate, a cutting blade set in said notch againstwhich that portion of thread extending beyond the snubbing hub isadapted to be drawn in a cutting operation, means defining a separatingjoint in the device between said suction cup and said stationary headplate comprising a threaded shank and a threaded socket screwing oversaid shank and adapted upon separation of the joint to permit the threadspool to he slipped over said supporting standard, and a stop shouldercoacting with said separation joint for predetermining a fixed length ofstandard on which said thread spool is always capable of revolvingfreely and for stationarily locking said head plate against rotarymovement relatively to said suction cup base which might otherwise ariseas a result of the pull of the thread against said cutting blade.

2. In a combined spool holding and thread cutting device, thecombination of a suction cup base for suction attachment to anyconvenient-supporting surface, a supporting standard projecting upwardlyfrom said suction cup base for supporting a thread spool, a stationaryhead on the upper end of said supporting standard, a guide aperture insaid stationary head through which the thread is adapted to pass in anupward direction from the spool on said standard, a snubbing hub on saidstationary head around which one or more turns of the thread leavingfrom said guide aperture are adapted to be snubbed, a cutting bladecarried by said stationary head against which that portion of the threadextending beyond the snubbing hub is adapted to be drawn in a cuttingoperation, and a separating joint in said device to permit separationbetween said stationary head and said suction cup base for permittingthe substitution of thread spools on said supporting standard, saidseparating joint comprising coacting parts which maintain a fixed lengthof supporting standard on which the thread spool is always capable offree rotation and which also stationarily locks said head against anyrotary movement relatively to said suction base which might otherwisearise as a result of the pull of the thread against said cutting blade.

3. In a combined spool holding and thread cutting device, thecombination of a suction cup base for suction attachment to anyconvenient supporting surface, a supporting standard projecting upwardlyfrom said suction cup base for rotatably supporting a thread spool, astationary head on the upper end of said supporting standard, a guideaperture in said stationary head through which the thread is adapted topass from the thread spool on said standard, a cutting device carried bysaid stationary head against which that portion of the thread extendingbeyond said guide aperture is adapted to be drawn in a cuttingoperation, and a separating jointin said device to permit separationbetween said suction cup base and said stationary head for permittingthe substitution of thread spools on said supporting standard,

said separating joint comprising coacting parts which maintain apredetermined fixed length of supporting standard longer than the lengthof the thread spool thereon so that said spool is always capable of freerotation on the standard, and which also stationarily lock said headagainst any rotary movement relatively to said suction base which mightotherwise arise as a result of the pull of the thread against saidcutting device.

4. In a combined spool holding and thread cutting device, thecombination of a suction cup'base for suction attachment to anyconvenient supporting surface, a supporting standard projecting upwardlyfrom said suction cup base for rotatably supporting a thread spool, astationary head on the upper end of said supporting standard, a snubbingdevice on said stationary head on which the thread drawn from said spoolis adapted to be snubbed, a cutting device carried by said stationaryhead against which that portion of the thread extending beyond saidsnubbing device is adapted to be drawn in a cutting operation, and aseparating joint in said device to permit separation between saidsuction cup base and said stationary head for permitting thesubstitution of thread spools on said supporting standard, saidseparating joint comprising coacting parts which maintain apredetermined fixed length of supporting standard longer than the lengthof the thread spool thereon so that said spool is always capable of freerotation on the standard, and which also stationarily lock said headagainst any rotary movement relatively to said suction base which mightotherwise arise as a result of the pull of the thread against saidcutting device.

5. In a combined spool holding and thread cutting device, thecombination of a suction cup'base for suction attachment to anyconvenient supporting surface, a supporting standard projecting upwardlyfrom said suction cup base for rotatably supporting a thread spool, astationary head on the upper end of said supporting standard, a cuttingdevice carried by said stationary head against which the thread drawnfrom the spool is adapted to be pulled in a cutting operation, and aseparating joint in said device to permit separation between saidsuction cup base and said stationary head for permitting thesubstitution of thread spools on said supporting standard, saidseparating joint comprising coacting parts which maintain apredetermined fixed length of supporting standard longer than the lengthof the thread spool thereon so that said spool is always capable of freerotation on the standard, and which also stationarily locks said headagainst any rotary movement relatively to said suction base which mightotherwise arise as a result of the pull of the thread against saidcutting device.

6. In a combined spool holding and thread cutting device, thecombination of a suction cup base for suction attachment to anyconvenient supporting surface, a supporting standard projecting upwardlyfrom said suction cup base for supporting a threadspool, a stationaryhead plate removably mounted on said support ing standard, said standardhaving a threaded bore in its upper end, a threaded shank'projectingdownwardly from said stationarythead plate adapted to bescrewed down into the threaded bore in said standard, a stop shoulderassociated with said threaded shank adapted to have abutment against theupper end of said supporting standard after the thread spool hasbeenmounted on said standard, and a cutting device carried by saidstationary head plate against which the thread drawn from the spool isadapted to be pulled in a cutting operation, the threaded engagement ofsaid threaded bore 7 up over said threaded shank and against said stopshoulder determining a fixed length of said supporting standard on whichthe thread spool is always capable of revolving freely, and alsostationarily locking said head plate against any rotary movement on saidstandard which might otherwise arise as a result of the pull of thethread against the cutting blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,579,046 Locke et at; Dec. 18,

